The Spider and the Fly

The Spider

and

The Fly

A Psychological Thriller

Daniel  West

The Spider and the Fly - Is a work of fiction.

Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental. Places and events have been created for effect

© Copyright 2014: Daniel West and Gestalt Epiphany, Ltd

All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. Published in the United States.

Daniel West Author

ISBN 13 - 978-1-312-40695-7

9  8  7  6  5  4  3  2  1

First Edition

LuLu Press Inc

Raleigh, NC

Other Books by the Author

Dancing in Hell

A Guide to Surviving Your Spouse’s Mid-Life Crisis

Swan Song

Satire

Czech Mate

Psychological Thriller

Acapulco Gold

Psychological Thriller

Deadly MILF’s

Psychological Thriller

The stunning conclusion to the Czech series

The Charleston Shuffle

Psychological Thriller

The Spider and the Fly

Psychological Thriller

DreamScape

Psychological Thriller

The Burning Bush

Satire

Extreme Hunting

Season 1

Galactic Pirates

Sci Fi

The Admiralty

Book 2 of the Galactic Pirates Trilogy

Insurrection

Book 3 of the Galactic Pirates Trilogy

The Ambien Defense

Legal Thriller

Dark Web

Psychological Thriller

The Lost Colony

Historical Drama

Escape from Paradise

Dark Humor

Déjà Vu

Psychological Thriller

Acknowledgments

I thank my son and coauthor, Daniel West, Jr., for standing by me all these years and helping produce this book to help others.

I thank Denise, the person I love most in the world, for giving me twenty-one great years, then abandoning us for no reason at all and giving us the desire to learn why she did it. You helped us to grow, learn, and become fabulously wealthy.

They always tell you to write what you know. I think it makes more sense to write what you don't know ... to write what makes you uneasy, what you wonder about, what keeps you awake at night. -- Lois Lowry, speaking at the 2012 BEA.

Thank you Denise for all the times that you made me uneasy, the times that I wondered about why you were doing this to all of us, and all of the times that caused me to stay awake, crying, all night. That was, in fact, the inspiration that I actually needed in order to start writing.

I owe all of my success to you.

- Dan

I thank James Lamar Palmer, attorney extraordinaire at Jackson Law Firm, for keeping me within the limits of our legal system.

The Spider and the Fly

Dedication _

The Spider and the Fly_

A Fishing Expedition_

The Way Things Are_

Insight_

Étude in Black _

The Slippery Slope_

Darkest of Nights_

Karma Chameleon_

Elysian Dawn_

Maxwell’s Silver Hammer_

About the Author _

Dedication

This book is dedicated to Onyxia

Jar of Hearts – Christina Perry

Onyxia is the time traveling cat from my book Swan Song

Onyxia was a real cat, her story is true.

Onyxia is her own great, great, great, great, great, grandmother, she died thirty nine years before she was born.

Thus, she is caught in a perpetual time loop of births and rebirths.

Each cycle, she comes closer to repairing the fracture in time.

Each cycle, the two of us come closer to preventing the loss of Denise’s soul.

Swan song will clear up any misgivings the reader may have about the previous statement.

After all, these two books are works of fiction. In fiction, anything is possible.

The Onyxian Cycle

Onyxia – Born 2021 – Died 1982 – Struck by lightning

Morris – Born 1982 – Died – 1991 – Vanished with no trace

Tiger – Born 1988 – Died – 2003 – Heartbroken over the loss of Denise

Onyxia II – Born 2003 – Died 2011 – Shot by redneck neighbor

Natasha – Born 2009 – Died 2013 – Cat fight gone bad

Lady Prestor – Born 2013 – Present

Unknown -

Unknown -

-          Dan West

Our souls met and we recognized each other from countless previous lives,

We stared deeply into the dark wells of each other’s eyes

We danced into the sky, we danced among the stars

Each of us gave the other the space they needed, In order for them to be able to grow into the unique individual that they truly are.

In doing so… we became one person.

Daniel West III

Apache Wedding Blessing

Now you will feel no rain,

for each of you will be shelter for the other.

Now you will feel no cold,

for each of you will be warmth for the other.

Now there is no more loneliness.

Now you are two persons,

but there is only one life before you.

May your days together be good and long

upon the earth.

Albert Maltz for the movie Broken Arrow

Foreword

Books are like children; each one is a unique gift to the world. I try to do something different with each of my books. I have found that I cannot fundamentally change my style of writing. However, I can change some of the small things that I do in my books.

For me, this book is about exploring new concepts, in a cathartic manner.

This book is an attempt to see familiar things from a different angle.

Ethos, Pathos, Logos

The Spider

and

The Fly

A Psychological Thriller

Daniel  West

The Spider and the Fly

A fly never eats a spider. But sometimes, a fly has some very powerful friends.

The spider carefully and patiently wove its web. It created geometric designs that caught the light and reflected that light in a prismatic fashion. The spider was diligent in making the web as pleasing, and innocuous looking, as possible. One must never frighten the prey before one strikes. The web must be pleasing to the eye, and this web was very pleasing. This web was… perfect… in every manner possible.

Hazel carefully searched the room, she thought, he must be here, he attends all of these charity events. She stood on her tiptoes, stretching her shapely calves. She finally spotted him. He was standing behind a table covered with glasses of Champaign.

Hazel casually walked over to the table and picked up a glass of Champaign, she smiled at Eddie, and said, I am a huge fan.

Eddie grinned at the woman as he looked her over, she was about twenty four, she was certainly beautiful, and she was very well dressed. Eddie suspected that she was a fashion model who wanted to break into the movie industry.

Eddie took a sip from his glass of Champaign, then asked, Which of my films is your favorite?

Hazel grinned coyly, They are all so great, but I am a sucker for silly romance movies. So I will go with… ‘Burning Desire’ as my all time favorite.

Eddie grinned, Nothing wrong with a woman who wants a little romance in her life. Especially if she has a burning desire.

Hazel grinned, You’re making me blush.

Eddie chuckled, Not yet, but I will.

Hazel frowned, Aren’t you married?

Eddie grinned, No, I do have a live in girlfriend, but she isn’t here tonight. If your apartment is a no go, I can always rent a hotel room for the evening.

Hazel shook her head, This seems awful fast for me.

Eddie laughed, Baby, I thought you wanted to break into the movie business. There’s no room in my neighborhood for people who move slow.

Hazel smiled wickedly, "Good thing that I’m not trying to get into the movie business. Because, I am not willing to screw my way into it." She turned and walked away without saying another word.

Eddie motioned for his personal assistant to come over, he pointed toward Hazel as she retreated, Find out who she is and who she works for. He paused, It would not hurt my feelings one bit, if work started drying up for her.

The assistant nodded, I’ll get right on it.

Hazel casually swayed her hips as she sauntered away from Eddie. She smiled as she thought of it as her bum waving goodbye to the bum. She turned and walked down the hall, then stepped inside the women’s rest room. She pulled out her cell phone and called Do Dong, It’s safe to say that I have his full and undivided attention. What would you like me to do?

Do Dong grinned, Good job. I think letting him simmer a while would be our best move. One must never rush these things. See if you can sneak out of there. I want him looking around the room for you all evening.

Hazel nodded, I can do that, I’ll step out through the kitchen. No one should spot me leaving.

***

Charlie entered the Henderson County Sheriff’s Department. He approached the desk sergeant, Sir, I have two people with me, you need to run a Breathalyzer on them and charge them both with drunk driving.

The desk sergeant looked at Charlie suspiciously, Who are you?

Charlie frowned, Detective Charlie McFarland, I’m a homicide detective with the Charleston Police Department.

The desk sergeant called in a patrol officer to take custody of the two drunks, he also called the Sheriff.

Sheriff Baker strolled in to the lobby; he eyed Charlie over and asked him, Why are you in my county unannounced, and why are you pulling over drunk drivers?

Charlie grinned, I came up here on vacation. I rented a cabin up on Bearwallow and I’m just up here to do some fly fishing. By the way, I didn’t pull the drunks over, the tree did.

Sheriff Baker nodded, "I prefer it when officers announce that they are visiting my county, before they arrive."

The patrol officer reentered the lobby, The one man blew a 0.12 the other was under, he blew a 0.05.

Charlie frowned, The drunk was driving the truck, the passenger owned the truck, under the law, you charge them both with drunk driving. If you loan a vehicle to a drunk driver, you are guilty of drunk driving.

The patrol officer looked inquisitively at Sheriff Baker.

Sheriff Baker shook his head, I don’t know, call the magistrate.

Several minutes later the officer returned, He doesn’t know, he thinks maybe ‘Aiding and abetting a drunk driver’.

Charlie scowled, "For Christ’s sake, there is no such charge. Call a damn Judge."

Sheriff Baker held up his hand, Hold on, I have better than a Judge. I have a lawyer with a degree in procedural law. Call James for us.

Charlie shook his head, There is no such degree as procedural law, but go ahead and call the man.

Charlie explained the situation to the attorney, Sir, I have a man who was drunk driving. Sitting not an arms length away from him, in the cab of the truck, was the owner of the vehicle. What do I charge them with?

James paused, They are both guilty of drunk driving.

Charlie jumped in the air and did a fist pump, "Finally, someone is this godforsaken town with a glimmer of common sense. I am in love with you."

James sounded disturbed, That doesn’t work for me. I’m a happily married man.

Charlie laughed, Ok then, not ‘In love’, call it a Bromance, I respect you a lot.

James chuckled, That works for me, is that all you needed?

Sheriff Baker replied, Yes, that’s all. Thank you.

James replied, Anytime as he hung up.

Charlie started to walk out of the building, then turned, Oh, by the way. You need to call BATF and inform them that those men were driving a truck filled with jugs of moonshine.

Sheriff Baker shook his head, It’s too late for that. If you had called one of my patrol officers to the scene, or guarded the vehicle, we could do just that. By now, every damn farmer in the area has looted that shine right off the back of that truck. We have no evidence.

Charlie shook his head, Don’t you even want to go look?

Sheriff Baker snorted, No, but if any of that shine happens to be on that truck when you drive by, help yourself to it and enjoy the rest of your vacation.

Charlie shook his head as he walked out of the building.

***

Hazel carefully chose her location. Do Dong’s men had watched Eddie for a long time, they knew exactly what he would do in most situations, and when he would do it. They also knew how he would react to a woman teasing him. Eddie was chosen as their target because he had a history of aggressive sexual behavior.

Do Dong hoped that when Hazel filed her sexual assault charges against Eddie, that several of Eddie’s former trysts, women with ‘Buyers regret’, would come forward and make statements, or file their own charges against Eddie. With allegations of sexual assault, piling on is always a good thing, the more the merrier. After the fourth or fifth accusation, the man looks guilty, even if he is as innocent as the pure driven snow.

Hazel watched Eddie as the waitress escorted him to a table. Hazel spoke to Eddie as he walked past her, You give up too easily.

Eddie paused, My motto is: If you have to kiss ass to get something, then you gotta kiss ass twice as hard to keep it.

Hazel nodded, "That works for whores and women who aren’t worth having. But the right woman, she will make you stretch yourself as hard as you can to be a man deserving of her. You will have to sweat blood every day of your life to keep being worthy of her. Then, one day, you will fall short, and she will leave you. That, is when the real suffering begins, and that suffering will last the rest of your life."

Eddie grinned, "Are you the right woman."

Hazel smiled wickedly, We will see.

Eddie turned to the waitress, I will sit here, thank you. as he sat down beside Hazel.

Hazel frowned, I don’t remember inviting you.

Eddie smiled mischievously, "This is my restaurant. I sit where I choose."

***

Charlie stood just a little over knee deep in the rock filled river, he could feel the icy cold water pressing against his hip waders as it rushed down the side of the mountain. He frowned, two and a half days of fishing and not even a nibble. He was beginning to think that the tales of this river being filled with spotted brown trout was a local myth.

Charlie caught the motion of a man sneaking up behind him, he casually glanced out of the corner of his eye and watched the man. The man had a pistol drawn and was pointing it in Charlie’s direction.

Charlie slowly made his way toward the riverbank, making sure that he never looked in the man’s direction. Charlie bent over his tackle box, keeping his back toward that man, he waited until the man was less than three steps behind him.

Charlie spun quickly and slapped the man in the face with his fishing pole, he twisted the pole in his hands and jabbed the man in the stomach with the handle of the pole. He then dropped the pole and grabbed the man’s wrist, he snapped the wrist bone and disarmed the intruder. He grabbed the man and dragged him out into the river, where he held him underwater while he slowly counted to fifteen.

Charlie pulled the man out of the water and asked, Who the hell are you, and why are you trying to kill me?

The man coughed and spit up water, I’m a fish and wildlife officer and I was just going to check your fishing license.

Charlie pushed the man back underwater and held him there for another fifteen seconds. He pulled the man out, Not buying it. What were you really doing?

The man choked up cold water, Honest injun. Look at my badge. We get bored so we like to scare the crap out of people.

Charlie pushed the man back underwater, this time he felt for a badge and ripped it off the man’s shirt. He casually pocketed the badge as he pulled the man to his feet. Charlie scowled at the man, I don’t see any badge, do you carry any ID on you?

The man nodded, The badge must have washed down the river. I’ll show you my ID, but I wanna see your fishing license.

Charlie laughed, I guess it’s like going on a teenage date, you show me yours and I’ll show you mine.

The man was not amused; he pulled out his State Issued ID and told Charlie, You’re under arrest for assaulting an officer.

Charlie flipped open his badge and Police ID, You’re under arrest for assault with a deadly weapon. I am thinking that you’re going to feel really stupid when you get a call from the Governor tomorrow morning.

The man glared at Charlie, Why would the Governor want to call me?

Charlie grinned, The State spends millions of dollars every year attracting tourists here, just to have your asinine stunts drive them away permanently. From what I’ve seen of this State, everyone here is a money hungry capitalist. Costing them some revenue would certainly merit a personal call from the Governor.

The man scowled, I guess I’ll feel stupid, but not as stupid as you.

Charlie raised an eyebrow, Whaddaya mean.

The man pointed around at the river, What do fish eat?

Charlie thought for a few seconds, Smaller fish?

The man shook his head, Try, flies, like the one on the end of your fly fishing rod, and grubs off the river bottom. How many flies do you see around here?

Charlie looked around, None, they would all wash down stream.

The man nodded, Exactly, so would the fish. Swimming against this current, a fish would get exhausted trying to stay in one place. Only an idiot would fish in rapids. How long have you been fishing in this spot?

Charlie looked embarrassed, I guess I picked a bad area.

The man grinned, You couldn’t have picked a worse spot to fish in. You always fish in the flats.

Charlie nodded, Thanks, I was getting really frustrated here. I guess it was my own damn fault.

The man sighed,